Tag: lo-fi

Favourite Records of 2022

 

Our label owner Harry Towell has finalised his top 20 list of favourite albums of 2022, complete with a mix. See below a few words from Harry on his year in music, followed by the top 20, each with a link, a brief commentary and the artwork. You can check out the mix Harry created by clicking the picture above, which counts down with a track from each of his favourite albums. Alternatively, there’s a player below and you can click play whilst you read on…

“I feel like I’ve spent most of 2022 getting ready to move house, with our family having moved into our new home at last on the 9th of December. All year I had in mind that I wanted the cover image for this year’s end of year show to be a photo of somewhere in the new house and it was starting to seem like it might not happen, as we moved into December. Thankfully, the weekend after we’d moved I managed to take a moment to shoot a bird sat on top of our garage, on an icy -4 degree morning.

I changed jobs earlier this year and have spent much more time working from home, and therefore my appetite for music and of varying genres, has been in overdrive. I’ve felt like I’ve really pushed the boat out in listening through lots of genres this year, but when I look at my top 20 records whittled down from a list of 80, it’s mostly ambient, electro acoustic and modern classical music – which will no doubt please Whitelabrecs fans! There has been some jazz and more adventurous styles that have made the list though…

In terms of formats, I’ve mostly been scouring music on Spotify and Bandcamp, streaming over and over in the days whilst making a running list of my favourites. I use an app called ‘Paperless lists’ which allows me to adjust the albums that make the list into a running chart, which I was adjusting constantly. With the move, I’ll be able to play vinyl again on my Technics 1210s, but I also bought a cheap ‘run around’ in the form of a Crosley Voyager. So I’ve made it my mission to own as many of my top 20 albums on vinyl as possible; to date, I’m pretty much there with just a couple left to track down.

For my best-of list for 2022 then, I’ve followed the exact same format as last year, with a mix show counting down my top 20, which you can check out on my Spheruleus Mixcloud page. Last year I took the time to upload end of year mixes since 2010 and so I’ve kept the cover image format so that it matches these. We now have 13 years of mixes to listen back through; something very personal for me whenever I want to jump down a rabbit hole of nostalgia. But hopefully people who tune in will enjoy!


Then with this post, you can see my final list below; again, for simplicity I’ve kept last year’s format the same. I hope you enjoy the selections and as always, the links will transport you to a release page where you can explore more. If this list connects one person with an album they didn’t know about, and they decide to support the respective artist and label by purchasing, then it’s all been worth it!

1st:
Michael Scott Dawson
Music For Listening
We Are Busy Bodies

“This year there’s been a clear winner for my album of the year ‘award’. I feel like I’ve played this one by Michael Scott Dawson pretty much every week, whether it be to help me drift off to sleep, to help my daughter to drift off to sleep, or to work to during the day. Not to mention my listens to the 12″ vinyl version on the turntable in the office. ‘Music For Listening’ came out in March this year on We Are Busy Bodies and initially I was struck by the design, with a thought provoking angled view through the window of a boat, or train on a bridge. Then the vinyl and its white disc grabbed my attention further and whilst a subtle listen to begin with, this record is one I’ve soaked myself into time and time again in 2022. It’s definitely going to be a record that instantly, when I hear it or see the sleeve, I’ll think back to this year. There’s so much detail in the field recordings and arrangement but also, it’s so simple and minimal at the same time.“

https://michaelscottdawson.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-listening

2nd:
Wax Machine
Hermit’s Grove
Batov Records

“I love retro-inspired, dusty funk records and was drawn to this one by its cover image, and the Brazilian influences referenced in the release notes. Hitting the play button, I was instantly sucked into the melting pot of cultures and styles across this record. It’s filled with sun-bleached tropical sounds, hints of bossa rhythymns, hazy electro-acoustic atmospherics, licks of funk, moments of folk song and the slightest hint of post rock. In the summer, this was my go-to album in daylight and I’ve fond memories sat in 25+ degree heat, absorbing the sunshine vibes of Hermit’s Grove.“

https://waxmachinebbib.bandcamp.com/album/hermits-grove

3rd:
Pan American
The Patience Fader
Kranky

“Kranky output is always top quality and it’s a must-stop-by destination for any fan of ambient music. Certainly a regular haunt for me over the years and this year, I was really taken by ‘The Patience Fader’ by Pan American, which came out earlier in the year. I’ve had the vinyl copy on rotation in the office and these softly melancholy ambient guitar songs take me back to some of the early ambient guitar stuff I’d listen to when I first got into this scene.“

https://panamerican.bandcamp.com/album/the-patience-fader

4th:
Channelers
Time, Space, and Thought
Inner Islands

“Plenty of warmth in this one by Channelers and a generous body of work too, clocking in at around an hour. Sadly I’ve not got a cassette player that works properly, so I’ve had to settle for download / streaming this year but nevertheless, this record has lived up to its title, being played regularly throughout 2022. The album has a folk and americana feel but with some ambient and electro acoustic composition thrown in. It sounded particularly impressive in the warmer months and the record definitely soundtracked my summer.“

https://channelers.bandcamp.com/album/time-space-and-thought

5th:
Kolumbo
Gung Ho
Calico Discos

“I’ve always been into dusty lo-fi Hip-Hop and turntablism, and records with crafty sampling techniques. This one by Kolumbo was quite a discovery – initially I thought it would be a lo-fi or chillhop record, but I realise I was pretty wrong after a listen, as the madness unfolded. This one has strings, piano and beautiful arrangements, but also has a really imaginative aesthetic too, with dreamlike, retro-film composition. Very hard to explain, so instead, I recommend you take a listen for yourself!“

https://kolumbo.bandcamp.com/album/gung-ho

6th:
Gianni Brezzo
Tutto Passa
Jakarta

“I’ve been to Italy a few times and so the title and cover artwork drew me in to giving this one a spin. On inspection of the liner notes, I learned that Gianni Brezzo is in fact a Cologne, Germany based musician called Marvin Horsch. His work is inspired by 60s and 70s Italian composers, as well as annual visits to see his Grandmother in Sicily. The record is a low-slung form of Jazz, with swathes of strings, licks of sax and trumpet underpinned by double bass and slow grooves. The vinyl has an insert of images that really bring the concept to life.“

https://giannibrezzo.bandcamp.com/album/tutto-passa

7th:
Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer
Recordings from the Åland Islands
International Anthem

“I was really intrigued by this album, with its concept being a location-based visit to the Åland islands. When I read up on the islands, I was amazed that there are so many! Some 6500 in fact. Composers Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer visited the islands and captured field recordings and musical performances, in an aural study of the region and with the vinyl package, their booklet of liner notes really bring the trip to life. Musically, violin, piano and synth take center stage, alongside the field recordings and other incidental inclusions.”

https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/recordings-from-the-land-islands

8th:
Gerald Clayton
Bells On Sand
Blue Note

“Again, as a theme this year, I was drawn in by the album cover of this album from Gerald Clayton and immediately, on listening, I was met with a feeling that this album would find its way into my end of year list. It’s got variety first and foremost, which always seems to help elevate an album for me and this is in part down to the two vocal tracks, sung by MARO and also, tracks with sax from Charles Lloyd. I’ve been a fan of jazz from a young age and there are many albums from the jazz greats. For me, this record will sit right up there, among the best of them – quite a statement, but it really is that good. Fittingly, it’s out on legendary jazz label Blue Note.“

https://store.bluenote.com/collections/cds/products/gerald-clayton-bells-on-sand

9th:
Misha Panfilov
Momentum
2 Headed Deer

“I discovered the Misha Panfilov Sound Combo a couple of years back and loved his Days As Echoes album. I was intrigued by this new one on 2 Headed Deer and it didn’t disappoint. Instantly I ordered the vinyl – this one’s a jazzy number with percussive rhythms, brass, piano, organ, synth and mellotron. It has a retro feel to it, with what is presumed to be tape effects, not to mention some field recordings along the way to give some further texture.“

https://mpsc.bandcamp.com/album/momentum

10th:
Malcolm Parson
Letters From Home
Moderna

“I check out a lot of Moderna releases, with their output always being of a high quality. The label offers modern classical music and I’ve often discovered new artists in their catalog. One such is Malcolm Parson, whose short album ‘Letters From Home’ came out in April this year. Piano and strings take center stage, in these nostalgic and melancholy arrangements. There is no clear concept to it, but with the old family photo and through a bit of reading, it’s apparent that Malcolm was looking to reconnect with his childhood in making this record.“

https://modernarecords.bandcamp.com/album/letters-from-home

11th:
Andrew Wasylyk
Hearing The Water Before Seeing The Falls
Clay Pipe

“In 2020 I loved Andrew Wasylyk’s ‘Fugitive Light and Themes of Consolation’ and have followed his work ever since. I was excited to see him dropping singles for his new album and instantly ordered the vinyl direct from Clay Pipe, as soon as it came out. It was only released in late November, so I’ve had very little time to listen to it – particularly the vinyl version. But by the time the record arrived, I’d already streamed the album over and over again several times, making my mind up that this one’s to be placed pretty high in my end of year list. Lots of deeply nostalgic, retro-infused instrumentals here – highly recommended.“

https://andrewwasylyk.bandcamp.com/album/hearing-the-water-before-seeing-the-falls

12th:
Melchior Sultana
Self Reflections
Oath

“This year I went mad again for House music, reigniting my dormant blog Wallofhouse, scouring the scene and making mixes and playlists. As the winter drew near, I soon began neglecting the blog again, focusing again on Ambient music. But throughout the year, whenever there is work to be done around the house, I’ll reach for – house. What I tend to find is that quality, conceptually-leaning albums in the house scene are lacking. So when a record like this one by Melchior Sultana arrives, lavishly packaged in a beautiful gatefold vinyl sleeve, I tend to get pretty excited. Due to vinyl pressing delays, I waited months for this to arrive but it was worth it. Lovely Deep House music here.“

https://oathcreations.bandcamp.com/album/self-reflection

13th:
William Basinski & Janek Schaefer
…On Reflection
Temporary Residence

“Ambient legend William Basinski’s releases always tend to get gobbled up by fans and pretty much everything he does is a must have. I’ve always enjoyed the work of another legend, Janek Schaefer too and to see that these two collaborated in an album raised the intrigue. Sleepy piano loops play through over these reflective movements, full of field recordings and everyday happenstance. You guessed it – sounds amazing on vinyl too!“

https://williambasinski.bandcamp.com/album/on-reflection

14th:
Landtitles
As The Night Comes Softly Down
Polar Seas

“I was fortunate this year to call Brad Deschamps’ Polar Seas label a home this year, for my deeply personal collaborative album with Guy Gelem. When I got my copies, Brad had included a copy of the other release which came out at the same time – a record by Landtitles. I don’t own a CD player in the house, so this kind gift hung around unplayed in the office for a while – until one day I took it into my car, and it’s not left the player since. Pretty much everywhere I drove, this was my soundtrack – a beautiful collection of warm, electro-acoustic pieces, with light and slightly glitchy electronics.“

https://polarseasrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/as-the-night-comes-softly-down

15th:
Julia Gjertsen
Formations
Moderna

“Here’s another fine example of Moderna quality, with ‘Formations’ by Julia Gjertsen coming out at the beginning of this year. Gjertsen is a pianist and composer, based in Oslo, Norway and this record is full to the brim of high fidelity modern classical orchestration, with piano and strings combining into a beautiful Ambient-leaning soundtrack. The record is a little light on a concept, at least based on what’s available to read on the Moderna release page. But the album name, artwork, track titles and compositions themselves do a good job of pulling you into an immersive world.“

https://modernarecords.bandcamp.com/album/formations

16th:
Erland Cooper
Music For Growing Flowers
Mercury KX

“I was getting regular notifications of new singles from Erland Cooper throughout the year, which culminated in this album, Music For Growing Flowers. This record compiles the tracks which soundtrack the Superbloom installation, in the moats of the Tower of London – where wild flowers were planted for a dramatic, and picturesque view, to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The quality of the music, the concept and as a tribute to the Queen, made this into a much-cherished album in my collection. Not to mention the packet of accompanying seeds which I had to buy, so that this story can live on in the garden at my new home.“

https://www.erlandcooper.com/superbloom

17th:
Sweatson Klank
Postcards
Friends Of Friends

“Through my relentless search for various styles of music, I’ve enjoyed a lot of Sweatson Klank’s stuff over the last couple of years. Typically his work tends to end up on my soul, jazz, funk, deep house or chill playlists and the odd DJ mix. But in this album, not only was I surprised to see a chicken on the front cover, I was surprised at how ‘ambient’ this one is, with exotic far-flung sounds serving as a travelogue from the artist, presented in a series of deep, droning moods. Unfortunately, this is one of the few albums from this year which I’ve been unable to hunt down on vinyl. Hopefully I can track down a copy sometime.“

https://sweatsonklank.bandcamp.com/album/postcards

18th:
Flore Laurentienne
Volume II
Rvng Int’l

“Sneaking into the list is this one by Flore Laurentienne, which came out in November on Rvng Int’l. Flore Laurentienne is a project helmed by Canadian composer Mathieu David Gagnon and this second volume follows the critically acclaimed first, which was released in 2019. I’m new to both, and the album artwork and white vinyl alone was enough to get pretty excited about. The retro approach to production, combining orchestral strings and synth textures cemented my need to own this one on vinyl and I’ve been enjoying this one on heavy rotation.“

https://florelaurentienne.bandcamp.com/album/volume-ii

19th:
Snowdrops
Missing Islands
Injazero

“Another late, last minute entry to this list is from Snowdrops, with their album ‘Missing Islands’ having only just dropped in November. It is a luxurious arrangement of modern compositions, combining the talents of Christine Ott with Mathieu Gabry. After hearing the singles prior to release, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of this album and currently, have had to settle for a digital version for the time being after being unsure of which address I’ll be at. But I’ll be sure to put the order in soon, as this is a must have for the collection.“

https://snowdrops.bandcamp.com/album/missing-island-2

20th:
Andrew Tasselmyer
Limits
Laaps

“I’ve followed Andrew Tasselmyer’s music, ever since I discovered his work as Gray Acres, in which he records alongside his brother, in an album released here on Whitelabrecs a few years back. I also keep a close eye on the always-high-quality output on Laaps Recordings. Limits is a beautifully minimal album, both in artwork and sound, with the snowy cover matching well with the scratchy, blurred edges of ambient drones.”

https://laaps-records.com/album/limits

New series: eRecords

Whitelabrecs was set-up in 2016, originally releasing hand made CDrs that looked just like mini white label vinyl, complete with accompanying Polaroid art and title stamped in coloured ink. In 2018 we switched to printed gatefold vinyl effect CDrs and since the beginning, we’ve occasionally released digital work too.

We’re aware that the listening habits of future generations will change, with their needs increasingly likely to search for something immediate, streamable to Bluetooth speakers, space saving, and not impacting the environment. We still love our CDs, we still love vinyl, but we do love digital too and this format will always have a place in our catalog. The problem however has been that we love designing concepts, coming up with creative packaging ideas and sourcing high quality artwork. We’ve felt that digital has its drawbacks in terms of design and conveying that special feeling you get when you hold a physical edition.

Slowly, we have been working on a new series of digital editions to supplement our CDs. This will be a new space for artists to experiment, collaborate, record anonymously, promote themselves, not to mention an increased chance of featuring in our catalog. We receive so many quality demos that would be a good fit for the label, but making CDs is expensive and we have to agonise over every penny spent on making them, such is the landscape of selling physical music nowadays. This is an opportunity for us to work with more talented people, share more music, and for us to experiment more too.

Our new series takes an image of a vinyl sleeve and blank labelled disc, with a rubber-stamped logo and frame, and typewritten artist and title. For each release, colours and artists will change, but the dusty old sleeve design ideas remain the same. You’ll only hear one track on the release’s Bandcamp page and the rest are hidden. Everything is contained within the download which includes a range of high quality audio file format options and a PDF scrapbook which features liner notes, a Polaroid image of the cover art (reminiscent of our early releases), tracklist, credits, additional images and links from the artist. The duration of the music will not exceed the maximum length of a normal vinyl album and we hope that our digital releases are the closest they can be to capturing that magical feeling of holding a physical album, in a digital form.

Our first edition of the new eRecords series is from Whitelabrecs’ very own Harry Towell, under his Spheruleus project which has been active since 2008. The EP will be out on the 26th of February and fittingly, is entitled ‘Inaugurate’ as the series commences.

For eRecords, we will not create the 5 minute Soundcloud previews of all the tracks. Instead, we will share one full track or an excerpt from the record to give you a hint of what the full release sounds like.
Click on the player above, where you can take a listen to ‘a blank horizon’ from the very first eRecord in this new series.

Out Now! Paper Relics – Emersion

We’re pleased to reveal that just over 3 years since ‘The Road Home’, the Paper Relics are back with a new EP named ‘Emersion‘. This project is a collaboration between our label owner Harry Towell and his brother Stuart. Their sound sits somewhere between post rock and ambient, with hints of folk.

‘Emersion‘ is out now in a run of 50 cassette tapes along with the usual digital formats if you prefer. The tape features cover photography captured by Stuart in a recent trip to the Scottish Highlands and right at the end of each side of the tape is a short bonus ‘loop’. You can also see additional photography captured by Stuart in the gallery below.

Whitelabrecs low-run releases are likely to sell out fast. The best way to keep informed is to join our mailing list which can be located through our website menu or you can click HERE

press release
“Paper Relics is a collaboration between Whitelabrecs owner Harry Towell and his brother Stuart. They began recording together back in 2010 at their family home, with an EP on the Audio Gourmet netlabel which was followed by debut album ‘Over Exposure’ on Time Released Sound. I’m 2018 they created ‘The Road Home’ for Whitelabrecs, a record in which Sven Laux also had a hand.

The Paper Relics sound takes Stuart’s guitar and bass performances as the focal point of the compositions, with Harry’s background in creating Ambient and electro acoustic music adding further detail and texture. Each of their infrequent records has an evolving character, as equipment and techniques get updated and their lives change. Over Exposure was a record about photography, reflecting upon faded old family polaroids of life on the farm that their father grew up on. The Road Home moved into a richer more detailed sound palette, themed around the brothers’ new homes.

‘Emersion’ is a four track EP which is the first item in their discography, in which they did not physically sit down to record together. It was created through file-exchanges during lockdown, as glimpses of a life beyond the grip of the pandemic became in sight. As cautious plans were being made and a strange sense of freedom emerging, they reflected on the time-warping effects of their endless days spent indoors throughout the pandemic. They opted for a lo-fi retro sound, which sets out a dusty, degraded aesthetic across the recordings. Reel-to-feel tape decay, radio distortion, vinyl crackle and VHS hiss give a vintage charm to these reflective songs. There is a palpable melancholy which disguises the key message of optimism, with this EP being released on the 19th of July, a day being dubbed ‘freedom day’ in the UK. ‘Emersion’ is a brief space for reflection, in which the dust can settle.

After the album had been finalised, Stuart took a short break in the Scottish Highlands and he captured a series of photographs whilst hiking in the landscape. The EP cover artwork is one of these images, overlooking Loch Ness from a misty vantage point. We’ve created a short run of cassette tapes to tie in with the retro, lo-fi theme and the tape itself is neon yellow; a flash of colour as a stamp optimism.“

credits
Written and produced by Harry & Stuart Towell
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by Stuart Towell

Stuart Towell: Guitar, Bass
Harry Towell: Baritone Ukulele, Harmonica, Violin, Mandola, Voice, field recordings, electronics, MIDI keyboard and programming

Coming soon… Paper Relics – Emersion

 

We’re pleased to reveal that just over 3 years since ‘The Road Home’, the Paper Relics are back with a new EP named ‘Emersion‘. This project is a collaboration between our label owner Harry Towell and his brother Stuart. Their sound sits somewhere between post rock and ambient, with hints of folk.

‘Emersion‘ will be released in a run of 50 cassette tapes along with the usual digital formats if you prefer. The tape features cover photography captured by Stuart in a recent trip to the Scottish Highlands and right at the end of each side of the tape is a short bonus ‘loop’.

Emersion will be released on Monday the 19th of July with no pre-order. If you join our mailing list using the link below, we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.

press release
“Paper Relics is a collaboration between Whitelabrecs owner Harry Towell and his brother Stuart. They began recording together back in 2010 at their family home, with an EP on the Audio Gourmet netlabel which was followed by debut album ‘Over Exposure’ on Time Released Sound. I’m 2018 they created ‘The Road Home’ for Whitelabrecs, a record in which Sven Laux also had a hand.

The Paper Relics sound takes Stuart’s guitar and bass performances as the focal point of the compositions, with Harry’s background in creating Ambient and electro acoustic music adding further detail and texture. Each of their infrequent records has an evolving character, as equipment and techniques get updated and their lives change. Over Exposure was a record about photography, reflecting upon faded old family polaroids of life on the farm that their father grew up on. The Road Home moved into a richer more detailed sound palette, themed around the brothers’ new homes.

‘Emersion’ is a four track EP which is the first item in their discography, in which they did not physically sit down to record together. It was created through file-exchanges during lockdown, as glimpses of a life beyond the grip of the pandemic became in sight. As cautious plans were being made and a strange sense of freedom emerging, they reflected on the time-warping effects of their endless days spent indoors throughout the pandemic. They opted for a lo-fi retro sound, which sets out a dusty, degraded aesthetic across the recordings. Reel-to-feel tape decay, radio distortion, vinyl crackle and VHS hiss give a vintage charm to these reflective songs. There is a palpable melancholy which disguises the key message of optimism, with this EP being released on the 19th of July, a day being dubbed ‘freedom day’ in the UK. ‘Emersion’ is a brief space for reflection, in which the dust can settle.

After the album had been finalised, Stuart took a short break in the Scottish Highlands and he captured a series of photographs whilst hiking in the landscape. The EP cover artwork is one of these images, overlooking Loch Ness from a misty vantage point. We’ve created a short run of cassette tapes to tie in with the retro, lo-fi theme and the tape itself is neon yellow; a flash of colour as a stamp optimism.“

credits
Written and produced by Harry & Stuart Towell
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by Stuart Towell

Stuart Towell: Guitar, Bass
Harry Towell: Baritone Ukulele, Harmonica, Violin, Mandola, Voice, field recordings, electronics, MIDI keyboard and programming

Out Now! thme – that’s what it will be like

We’re pleased to announce the debut album by Paris, France based artist thme is out today! That’s what it will be like is a daydream soundtrack of slow and blurry guitar and piano drones which will place the listener into an idealistic but melancholic state. The album is accompanied by a retro-futurist collage cover artwork, provided by Arctic Sun.

That’s What It’ll Be Like is available on Whitelabrecs now along with another CD release by Glåsbird, which you can check out by clicking here. If you order both releases there will be no extra shipping costs and we will post them together. Click on the link below to check out this new release:

Our low-run releases will be made available suddenly without official release dates, meaning they’re likely to sell out fast. The best way to keep informed is to join our mailing list which can be located through our website menu or you can click HERE

https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/thats-what-it-will-be-like

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

press release
“‘That’s what it will be like’ is the debut album from emerging French artist Théo Martin, who records was thme. Théo was originally raised in the Parisians suburbs and now resides inside the city itself. He has lived a life with music at the fore since childhood, with learning guitar progressing to playing in a band for several years, before he started solo music production as part of a student exchange program.

Théo’s sound gravitates towards melancholic atmospheres, slowly evolving drones and time worn textures. Damaged piano pieces and micro/macro sound environments provide a dreamy backdrop for the listener, as a kind of spiritual shelter to travel to and rest.

These tracks were recorded during an intense period of work and Théo considered his studio as a space where time could slow down, to almost grind to a halt. This experience is captured inside these seven recordings, where time stands on end and the mind can wander. The retrofuturistic artwork (by Arctic Sun) which accompanies this album reflects this perfectly, in a surreal but dreamy glimpse of a daydream set in the clouds. That’s what it will be like.”

credits
Written and produced by Théo Martin
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Arctic Sun
Packaging Design by Harry Towell

Coming soon…thme – that’s what it will be like

We’re pleased to announce thedebut album due out on Saturday the 26th of September by Paris, France based artist thme. That’s what it will be like is a daydream soundtrack of slow and blurry guitar and piano drones which will place the listener into an idealistic but melancholic state. The album is accompanied by a retro-futurist collage cover artwork, provided by Arctic Sun.

The album will be released on Saturday the 26th of September with no pre-order. If you join our mailing list using the link below, we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.

Whitelabrecs low-run releases are likely to sell out fast. The best way to keep informed is to join our mailing list which can be located through our website menu or you can click HERE

press release
“‘That’s what it will be like’ is the debut album from emerging French artist Théo Martin, who records was thme. Théo was originally raised in the Parisians suburbs and now resides inside the city itself. He has lived a life with music at the fore since childhood, with learning guitar progressing to playing in a band for several years, before he started solo music production as part of a student exchange program.

Théo’s sound gravitates towards melancholic atmospheres, slowly evolving drones and time worn textures. Damaged piano pieces and micro/macro sound environments provide a dreamy backdrop for the listener, as a kind of spiritual shelter to travel to and rest.

These tracks were recorded during an intense period of work and Théo considered his studio as a space where time could slow down, to almost grind to a halt. This experience is captured inside these seven recordings, where time stands on end and the mind can wander. The retrofuturistic artwork (by Arctic Sun) which accompanies this album reflects this perfectly, in a surreal but dreamy glimpse of a daydream set in the clouds. That’s what it will be like.”

credits
Written and produced by Théo Martin
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Arctic Sun
Packaging Design by Harry Towell

Home Diaries 006: Spheruleus

We’ve taken a pause from our schedule of CD albums due to our local post office closing, following the outbreak of Covid19. We launched a digital series called Home Diaries, in which we’ll release EPs and albums by an international line-up of artists, with the music created during lockdown and social distancing conditions.

The series reflects a range of sounds, styles and ideas, as each artist portrays their own reflections uniquely. Each release is digital only for now, as we hope to raise what we can to help keep our label ticking overat this time. The releases feature a recurring polaroid image of a small lonely house, with a coloured filter chosen by the artist for each respective release.

Next we welcome our label owner Harry, who records as Spheruleus. He hasn’t released with Whitelabrecs since the year we launched back in 2016 and his Home Diaries submission follows last year’s Light Through Open Blinds on Lost Tribe Sound. Canvas Homes is the working title and it makes use of guitar and ukulele sketches made whilst working from home and then when furloughed from work, whilst his daughter Isla played around the house. In the evenings, Harry expanded these sketches into electro-acoustic compositions, adding field recordings and orchestral textures using a MIDI keyboard.

We have an exciting line-up to follow and each release will include bonus PDF liner notes, which has an interview with the artist on how they made the album, what their situation is like, what they have planned, their influences and what equipment/techniques they used.  There are also additional photos provided by the artist as part of the PDF too. Click on the link below to check it out:

-LABEL LINK-
https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/home-diaries-006

press release
“Home Diaries is an invitation to artists and musicians to create an album or EP to document their personal experience during the lockdown or social distancing conditions that are upon us, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The series reflects a range of sounds, styles and ideas, as each artist portrays their own reflections uniquely. Each release is digital only for now, as we hope to raise what we can to help keep our label ticking over at this time. The releases feature a recurring polaroid image of a small lonely house, with a coloured filter chosen by the artist for each respective release. We interview each artist and this is included as a bonus PDF with the download. You can also check out the Home Diaries series on Spotify if you prefer, which will be available to stream in due course.

For our sixth release, our label owner Harry Towell returns to the catalog for the first time since 2016’s Obsolarium. Harry records as Spheruleus and has released with labels such as Hibernate, Home Normal and most recently, Lost Tribe Sound with vinyl edition Light Through Open Blinds. This was an album about Harry’s first year or so as a home owner, when he recorded acoustic instruments and set it against various household recordings to preserve the experience.

This new Spheruleus album effectively became the spark to create the Home Diaries series. Harry recorded short guitar or ukulele sketches during the day as his daughter Isla played, before adapting these into tracks at night. Canvas Homes is a sonic diary of the events that unfolded, telling tales of Harry’s experience of lockdown, as he spent the time at home with his family. The work takes on the raw and unplanned nature of the acoustic sketches, adorned with documentary field recordings and orchestral MIDI textures.”

credits
Written and produced by Harry Towell
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Harry Towell

Home Diaries 005: Pruski

We’ve taken a pause from our schedule of CD albums due to our local post office closing, following the outbreak of Covid19. We launched a digital series called Home Diaries, in which we’ll release EPs and albums by an international line-up of artists, with the music created during lockdown and social distancing conditions.

The series reflects a range of sounds, styles and ideas, as each artist portrays their own reflections uniquely. Each release is digital only for now, as we hope to raise what we can to help keep our label ticking over at this time. The releases feature a recurring polaroid image of a small lonely house, with a coloured filter chosen by the artist for each respective release.

Next we have an artist who was actually going to release a CD with us later this year. Fingers crossed that this can still happen but in the meantime, Pruski has created a longform piece called I Need Space, which is a building drone of modular synth sounds, field recordings and the subtlest of lo-fi undertones.

We have an exciting line-up to follow and each release will include bonus PDF liner notes, which has an interview with the artist on how they made the album, what their situation is like, what they have planned, their influences and what equipment/techniques they used.  There are also additional photos provided by the artist as part of the PDF too. Click on the link below to check it out:

-LABEL LINK-
https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/home-diaries-005

-PRUSKI ON SPOTIFY-
https://open.spotify.com/artist/25pMn6OremNFW2pRX909Ib

press release
“Home Diaries is an invitation to artists and musicians to create an album or EP to document their personal experience during the lockdown or social distancing conditions that are upon us, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The series reflects a range of sounds, styles and ideas, as each artist portrays their own reflections uniquely. Each release is digital only for now, as we hope to raise what we can to help keep our label ticking over at this time. The releases feature a recurring polaroid image of a small lonely house, with a coloured filter chosen by the artist for each respective release. We interview each artist and this is included as a bonus PDF with the download. You can also check out the Home Diaries series on Spotify if you prefer, which will be available to stream in due course.

Our series continues, as we are joined by Krakow, Poland based artist Pruski who has previously released music through the Four Tapes Records label. We had already planned to release an album from this artist later this year, named ‘Playground’ and when we broke the news of a delay in our schedule, he embraced the Home Diaries theme and put together a beautiful longform drone.

I Need Space helped provide somewhere for Pruski to carve out a place, in which to channel the uncertainty of the situation, with restful modular synth tones underpinned with gentle field recordings. The sound of nature becomes a comforting backdrop for the mind, as the sounds of tired, failing computers are not powerful enough to break this thoroughly tranquil peace setting.”

credits
Written and produced by Paweł Pruski
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Harry Towell